Trucking Accidents

Accidents that involve tractor-trailers are often among the most catastrophic. Due to the high weights and huge sizes of these trucks, accidents involving them are more likely to result in devastating injuries and fatalities. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an accident that was caused by a large truck, contact the Law Offices of Craig L. Cook today. With more than 40 years of combined experience in advocating for truck accident victims, our attorneys understand how to investigate trucking accidents so that our clients receive fair compensation for their losses.

Liability in Trucking Accidents

Trucking accidents may involve multiple potentially liable parties. In addition to the other involved motorists and the truck driver, there may be liable third parties. Accidents involving large trucks may result from any of the following factors:

Truck driver negligence

Defective truck parts

Inadequate maintenance

Improper loading or load securement

Inclement weather

Defects in the roads

Our attorneys thoroughly investigate our clients’ truck accidents so that we can identify all of the potential causes. This may help us identify all of the potential parties that should be defendants to the lawsuits so that our clients have more potential sources of recovery.

Potentially Liable Parties

When truck drivers are negligent, and their negligence causes an accident, their employers may also be liable through a legal principle that is called vicarious liability. Employers are liable for the negligent conduct of their employees while they are working. In addition to the truck drivers and their trucking carriers, some other potentially liable parties might include the following entities:

Third-party maintenance and repair companies

Parts manufacturers

Road maintenance companies

Governmental entities that are responsible for maintaining the roads

Shippers and distributors that load the trucks

The attorneys at the Law Offices of Craig L. Cook will work with investigators and experts to identify all of the potentially liable parties so that they can be named in your lawsuit.

Why Getting Help from an Experienced Attorney Is Important

A common misconception about truck accident lawsuits is that they are relatively straightforward because of the size difference between the vehicles. However, truck accidents normally involve insurance policies with extremely high policy limits. Due to the extravagant amounts of money that are sometimes involved, insurance companies aggressively defend against claims. Without strong legal counsel, you may lose your case. In addition, most people do not understand how to investigate a truck accident to uncover other issues that have contributed to the collision, such as defective or poorly maintained truck brakes.

When you retain an attorney who is experienced in representing victims of trucking accidents, your lawyer can conduct an in-depth investigation of the case. He or she may work with investigators and experts to build a strong case for you that clearly shows liability. Attorneys are also familiar with the types of tactics that are often used by insurance companies when they defend against truck accident claims. By anticipating the potential defenses, our lawyers can craft your case accordingly.

When to Talk to an Attorney

Arkansas and Oklahoma have statutes of limitations in place for filing personal injury and wrongful death claims, including claims arising from truck accidents. In Arkansas, you must file your claim no later than three years after the accident occurs. Oklahoma’s statute of limitations is two years. If you fail to file your lawsuit within those limitations periods, you will be barred from later trying to recover damages for your losses from the accident.

So while you have at least two years to file a claim, it is best to talk to one of our experienced attorneys as soon as possible after the accident. We can build a stronger case for you if we can gather and preserve some of the evidence and talk to some of the witnesses before they disappear. Trucks also have black boxes that are similar to the ones that are found in airplanes. When a truck causes an accident, the carriers may try to destroy the data. Requesting prompt assistance from the Law Offices of Craig L. Cook can allow you to potentially secure this data before it can be destroyed.

Contact the Law Offices of Craig L. Cook Today

Suffering a debilitating injury or losing a loved one in an accident that was caused by a large truck can be devastating. Our attorneys understand the difficulties that victims encounter, and we believe that people who have suffered catastrophic injuries because of the negligence of others deserve to be compensated. Call the Law Offices of Craig L. Cook today at 479-783-8000 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.

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The Law Offices of Craig L. Cook is located in Ozark, AR and serves clients in and around Ozark, Charleston, Cecil, Branch, Ratcliff, Altus, Alix, Franklin County and Logan County.

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